Major changes are coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
This upcoming expansion will bring even larger crowds to Animal Kingdom
After months of rumors, and talk of blue sky possibilities, Disney has confirmed elements of the massive upcoming expansion to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. With everything confirmed so far, there is one attraction we’re dreaming of…
Rumors of Disney expanding Animal Kingdom by repurposing the area that currently makes up Dinoland U.S.A. have been going strong for years, with fans considering numerous different concepts. Finally, at the Destination D23 event in September of 2023, Josh D’Amaro – the president of Disney Experiences – confirmed that Disney was considering additions inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones – which would likely take over Dinosaur, consider it uses the same ride system and track layout of Indiana Jones Adventure -for the area.
We’ll miss Dinosaur, but we’re not opposed to this
During the same event, Imagineering head Bruce Vaughn said of the development of the land, “Imagineering has been talking about stories from this part of the world; Encanto with Indiana Jones just rose to the top. They give us so much to play with. We have a long way to go now and a lot more to discover. But our team here in Florida is all over it.”
We’d be THRILLED!
Disney Imagineering finally confirmed some details about the expansion in early April, when the organization posted a video on Instagram with the caption, “Travel with us to the Yucatán Peninsula, one of the many locales where we’ll draw inspiration for Tropical Americas, the exciting update coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom! “
Within the video, Neal Emery, Principal Landscape Designer at Walt Disney Imagineering, explains “We recently took a trip down to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula to study culture, art, and the archeology of the Mayans. Imagineers build 3D models to help visualize the stories that we’re trying to tell, to bring the fantastical and magical to life.”
WaltDisneyImagineering Instagram
While neither Encanto or Indiana Jones are confirmed, the fact that both have been name-dropped so often, combined with the fact that both fit the Tropical Americas theme – the former is set in Columbia while the latter had many adventures in South America – it seems like it’s only a matter of time until they’re confirmed.
However, this is still one ride we’re dreaming of for the area:
A thill ride based on The Emperor’s New Groove – which is set in the Peruvian area of the Incan Empire – that culminates in a massive “Pull the lever, Kronk!” scene. Come on, admit you would LOVE that just as much as we would!
Disney
Kronk ride aside, the massive expansion coming to Animal Kingdom should prove to change the Walt Disney World Resort FOREVER. Stay tuned to DFB for more updates on its conclusion.
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Which element of Animal Kingdom’s upcoming expansion are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below.
The post If Disney’s Animal Kingdom Expansion Doesn’t Include this Epic Ride, We’re Not Going. first appeared on the disney food blog.